It is the days that you have a horrible class, found out you made bad test grade and get a flat tire that you think: my life sucks. That was my day today. To add to my sob story, today is the day before my birthday. I woke up with the expectation that today would be the perfect day to call in my birthday and it was not... It was the opposite.
After driving back and forth, left, right and center, my mom's favorite hymn, "It Is Well," came on my Spotify. In my utter frustration, the lyrics resounded with me like never before.
"Even so, it is well with my soul."
It is well with my soul. Every insignificant bad event that happened to me today shadowed every amazing part of my day. Amazing is not an overstatement. I did have an amazing day. Here's why.
This morning I did not want to go to my 8:05 a.m. class. While arguing with myself in bed, I went back and forth thinking "It is not worth getting out of bed to go to class because I could be more productive at home." However, missing Organic Chemistry is never a good idea. Missing Organic Chemistry would bite me in the butt in a few days. I got out of bed with all my energy. Though small, to my delight, my roommate made extra coffee yesterday, so there was already coffee ready for me. Slightly more significant, while driving to class, the sky was majestic. It was a morning drive like never before. The sun was hitting the clouds, making me feel so small, but surrounded by beauty and joy. Pure serenity to start my morning with the Lord's masterpiece.
When you start the day with Organic Chemistry and a Physics Lab, it's kinda hard to find joy, but it was manageable which is a blessing in itself. However, driving back, BAM, flat tire. Great, am I right?
I don't know anything about cars.
I don't know anything about changing a flat tire.
I didn't know what to do.
As soon as I made my discovery, I started to panic. I was angry and distraught. It was a problem with an easy solution, but I was not thinking. I surrounded all joy with anger. Little did I know at the time, that my day would only get better.
My roommate was at home to my surprise. Upon finding out I had a flat tire, she jumped up and helped me. She knew exactly what to do and did it diligently and with strength. People kindly offered help, but my roommate did not need help. She confidently worked. Of course, I had to call my mom to comfort me in my panic and she told me exactly what to do, step-by-step. My roommate was practically done taking off the flat and changing it out, covered in sweat from her determination to help me. In my panic, I texted multiple friends for help, they all responded trying to help me to the best of their ability despite being in class.
Still, in this moment, I did not realize how amazing my friends and family were to help me in my panic. The anger still shadowed the fact I was having an amazing day. It didn't help that the tire repair shop's machine to repair my tire broke down. I drove off to another tire shop and they were kind the minute I walked in. My loving parents called the tire shop so they understood my dilemma when I got there. The guy helping me asked me about my major and future goals. I told him I wanted to be a doctor one day. As I left with a repaired Coco the Corolla (my car), he told me "Hopefully next time you need a new tire, you will be walking in here as a doctor."
Driving back to my apartment, there was a storm. After the storm, the clouds returned the majestic coloring and arrangement I saw this morning. "It Is Well" played.
In moments like these, it is easy to revert to anger. It is natural to place blame on others and especially on God. I did not know why I had to have this day. Especially before my birthday. I was thinking my life sucks, I don't deserve this, there goes a great birthday.
However, despite my initial thoughts, God has blessed me with a flat tire. It was well every minute because I was in God's hands the whole time. He was watching over my every move with the intention of showing me it is well with my soul despite the battles faced. Christ has "regarded my helpless estate" and has "taught me to say it is well."
Today, I had an amazing day. I realized that I truly have the best roommate, friends, family, community, and saw the majesty and greatness of God's gift to the world. He placed all these people in my life for a reason and they definitely all made an impact on me today.
Approaching my 19th year, I am blessed to only deal with small, minute, insignificant problems that I don't have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. They come here and there. But, I am not dealing with disease, or depression, or addiction, or abuse, or malnourishment or poverty.
I am blessed to have a flat tire.
Even so, it is well with my soul.
